What We Do: Conserve & Protect
Upon discovering an eagle nest (with eggs!) located on top of a bank of lights at the Orioles’ spring training ballpark in Sarasota, Florida, the AEF was asked by the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service and an environmental consulting firm to participate in the rescue of the eggs. The AEF did just that, taking infinite pains to transport the eagle eggs safely in a portable incubator from Florida to Pigeon Forge, TN. After several weeks, one egg hatched into a beautiful baby eaglet. The other egg was not viable and did not hatch. The eaglet that hatched was successfully cared for by the AEF and released into the Great Smoky Mountains at about 13 weeks of age.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife, state agencies, conservation groups, and like-minded individuals must all do their part in protecting the Bald Eagle. One might say, “I know there are Federal and State laws in place to protect eagles, but what can I, as an individual, do to help?”
Actions include, but are not limited to the following:
- Protect eagle habitats. Notify your local state wildlife agency if you notice a disturbance of an eagle nest habitat area by an individual or a corporation.
- Keep safe distances from their nests and roost site so as not to disturb eagles.
- If a nest is blown from a tree, help monitor and protect the area for up to 3 complete breeding seasons. Many eagles will rebuild the same nest, or build a nest close by.
- Advocate for eagle friendly power lines in areas where eagles are present; write to your government officials to lobby against indiscriminate wind-turbines that kill thousands of eagles; avoid harmful pesticides that contaminate the environment and threaten wildlife.
- Landfill areas should immediately cover carcasses of euthanized animals to avoid other animals such as eagles being poisoned by them.
- Hunt and fish responsibly—do not ever use lead shot or fishing apparatus.
The American Eagle Foundation’s mission to keep America’s eagles flying strong and free includes the pillar of Conservation and Protection. Specifically, we engage in non-releasable bird care, Bald Eagle protection & advocacy, and creating & managing a Nest Egg Fund in order to maintain AEF programs designed to help the Bald Eagle.
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